Rob Grimwood: Operations Section Chief Response for Real World Emergencies |
This session will explore the roles and responsibilities of the Operations Section Chief and provide participants with interactive scenario-based situational learning about how to effectively manage the Operations Section in various emergencies including severe weather, fires/explosions, chemical emergencies and more. The role of the Operations Section Chief is a complex one that often requires specific technical knowledge related to the emergency type, and is closely linked with the emergency site. It is a position that experiences significant cross-over between on-site incident command systems and EOC based incident management systems. This session will present various emergency types and work with participants to better understand and manage the transition from the initial response, through the activation of an Emergency Control Group and/or Emergency Operations Centre and demonstrate how an incident progresses and utilizes a scalable IMS model to achieve organized management of the incident.
Rob Grimwood, City of Mississauga Fire & Emergency Services: Deputy Chief of Training and Technology |
Rob has recently joined the City of Mississauga Fire & Emergency Services as Deputy Chief of Training & Technology. Prior to that, Rob was the Deputy Chief of Training, Safety, & Special Operations for the City of Vaughan Fire & Rescue Service. He has been a member of the fire service for the past 26 years, the last 14 of which have been in various senior leadership positions. Prior to joining the City of Vaughan, he was the Fire Chief in the City of Dryden, Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and Haldimand County. He also previously served as a Firefighter with the City of Toronto. He has worked as a Firefighter, Lieutenant, Captain, Assistant District Chief, Deputy Chief & Fire Chief. He worked as a Paramedic for 20 years and spent nine years as the Paramedic Chief in Haldimand County. He is the Management Co-chair of the Ontario Fire Services Section 21 Committee, an instructor for Dalhousie University’s Fire Service Management Program, and he is the President of the Ontario Association of Fire Chief (OAFC), where he also serves as the Chair of the OAFC Health & Safety Committee. He has been a Community Emergency Management Coordinator for the past 14 years and has worked in various IMS capacities at several different incidents of various types and durations, including as Incident Commander and EOC Commander of many large-scale emergencies.
|
|
Steve Armstrong: Leading Through Chaos - Lessons from Fire, Flood, Disease, and War
|
For more than four decades, Steve worked around the world as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Red Cross. On the literal frontlines for many of the globe’s most notable humanitarian crises during that time – ranging from the shores of Sri Lanka after the 2004 tsunami, to the aftermath of 9/11 in New York, managing the impact of firestorms – Steve has proven, over and over again, what true leadership means. Faced with complex missions and tasks that required extreme precision and unfailing resolve, Steve learned early on that properly inspiring his teams to act, move, and overcome obstacles would be the key to ongoing success. Rather than force compliance, he used his natural virtue, honour, and trustworthiness to motivate people. This exceedingly “human” side of his character enabled authentic connections and trust – instilling confidence, determination, and encouragement in all who followed his examples. Now, as a speaker, consultant and author of You Can’t Lead From Behind, Steve uses humour, honesty, and a lifetime of hard-learned lessons to tell his story and teach others how to become better and more effective leaders. Though his experience is global, his approach is down-to-earth and genuine, giving you and your leadership team the personalized tools and confidence they need to succeed.
|
|
The Future of Emergency Management and Beyond Emergency Management Ontario

Bernie Derible is the Deputy Minister and Commissioner of Emergency Management Ontario. He has 35+ years of service as a nation builder in conflict zones and a senior military officer for UN and NATO peace support operations. He led the strategic review and flood management planning following the devastating Thailand floods in 2009 and authored pandemic and emergency preparedness plans for international organizations and governments in Thailand, Afghanistan, Laos, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Pakistan and Mongolia. His nation building work led him back to Afghanistan, where he became Chief of Staff to the President and delivered a strategy for governance, infrastructure, agriculture and education. In Canada, he was responsible for the federal government emergency response to the Ontario Ice storm - Ottawa Region (1998) and was seconded to the City of Winnipeg as the Chief of Staff to coordinate federal emergency resources and personnel during the Winnipeg Floods (1997). While serving as the acting Base Commander of Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, he led the successful response for Ottawa Valley Region Y2K planning and preparedness. Additionally, he was responsible for emergency, crisis and mass casualty preparedness exercises at Atomic Canada Chalk River Laboratories and the Pembroke General Hospital.
In 2015, Bernie returned to Canada to design and implement the Syria refugee program, where he was responsible for safely welcoming 67,000 Syrian refugees and 1500 Yazidi women and children fleeing violence. His Cape-Breton roots uniquely placed him to author the Atlantic immigration pilot, heralded by the Wall Street Journal and the Economist for generating $250 million annually in GDP Growth, a critical pillar for Canada’s ascension into the top 10 global economies in 2020. Most recently, while in East Timor conducting leadership training and executive coaching, Bernie answered the call to return to Ontario as a Senior Advisor on the COVID-19 vaccine distribution task force, which coordinated the successful roll-out of over 30 million vaccinations across Ontario, now rated top three in the world.
|